Late last night 🌙 I penned my thoughts on the Boys 👦 Basketball 🏀 season ending too soon but there’s a story that still needs to be written and we will begin it with Coach Barnes putting the recap into his own words.
“Tough way to end a magical season , I feel like we had a really good game plan, we needed a really good start of the game I felt like to set tone early, then we started getting cold and Cody got into foul trouble.
We knew we had to play zone with their size in the front court which with numbers we didn’t have much choice.
The number one kid for them, Pomrenke gave them a huge boost with 19 tonight to go along with the big 6-9 Katron with 22, we knew he would get points around the rim with his size and soft finish.
We shot the worst we have all year 34% from floor, 3-29 from 3pt line, and missed 12 free-throws for 43% by far worst of year shooting. We played hard just not enough baskets went to win this game, you gotta score if you gonna trade buckets and we didn’t.
Tough locker room , tough way to end season, I told them it in no way defines their season 21 wins only 3 losses, District Champs, Christmas tournament Champs , All Distrist player of year in Reitzel, Smoot 1st team Richardson 2nd all District and 2 1000 point scorers in a season. An excellent group of guys, my coaching staff is second to none, these seniors have set the bar high, which is fine. I like a challenge, the guys remaining and coming back will rise to it as well. Still building, still working to go furthereven next year.
Hats off too Abington, played hard and tough in a packed Cavalier house which speaks volumes of this group and their season. On too next season, before you know summer league will be here and it back to work!”
The past few years spent around the Boys 👦 Basketball program has been a genuine blessing. Going into the run with only Kris Richardson as my connection to the team, getting to know Coach Barnes, Coach Stockner and recently Coach Largen has led me to believe a few things.
- Anthony Barnes presents a gruff exterior to many but once you can convince him that you also care about his Student Athletes then you get to see the true Coach Barnes.
- Everyone involved with his program gives you the impression that they have bought into the concept 💡 100%.
- The difference between Coaching a team and running a program can often be measured by the number of your Alumni that still want to be part of your organization. Looking at the training and the camps held show you that answer.
- Coach gets Bonus points for having to deal with both Kris and myself 3 months a year. Alone, we bother people ( pretty sure our Wives will attest to that) but together we test people’s tolerance of us. Coach Barnes just wants to win a Ball Game for his players and if that takes listening to Kris, so be it.
Hey Coach, how many days until your first practice ?
Going to miss the GameDay interaction with the team and the parents of the players. They too seem to be ALL IN and are so proud of their Youngins
Final Note – 📝 If Anthony or Kris miss Greg Talley and I in the coming months they know they can find us right across the street. We’ll keep the Lights on for them!
A.S.P.N on The Hill 